a laugh. “That thing is far from innocent. It’s killed eight people in the last two days.”
“It’s a wild animal that was either hurt or messed with. It can’t help it. Giants don’t go out trying to murder people, they react when people harm them or their families. It’s terrified and grieving someone.”
“You can tell that?”
“Yeah. My magic’s linked to him right now. I’m trying to calm him down so he’ll stop freaking the hell out.”
He nodded and blew out a breath. “You saved me.”
I glanced at him. “Yeah… so?”
“And you healed me.”
I turned my head to him. “Well, yeah.”
He faced me and blinked. “But you’re a witch.”
That made me roll my eyes. Where did this guy come from? I scoffed. “You really think I’d let someone die when I can save them? What the fuck, man?” I stood and walked away from him. Fucking asshole.
Luckily, Jorah and Thayer rounded the corner, took one look at me, then pushed some of their magic into my spell to give me a break. My brothers hugged me and asked if I was okay, and by the time I turned around, Grim was already gone. Scowling at the spot where he’d disappeared from, I shook my head. Why did I care where that jerk was, anyway? Why should I care if he was healed enough to drive home? Why was I even thinking about a jerk that thought I’d let him die just because I was a witch?
Why couldn’t I stop thinking about those blue eyes of his?
Motherfucker.
I sighed and focused on my brothers before discussing what we were going to do with the giant. We wanted to set him free, but since he’d harmed people, we were going to have to set up a barrier to keep him from traveling this way again, and to keep people out of his territory.
We worked well into the night, but I was distracted the entire time since I couldn’t stop wondering if Grim made it home okay and worrying that he hadn’t.
As we walked up to our houses on our coven’s land, Jorah put his hand on my arm and asked, “Are you okay?”
I nodded and ran a hand through my hair. “Yeah.”
“What is it? You’re purposely blocking me, so you’re obviously thinking about something. Talk to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“It’s nothing. Just thinking about that fucking hunter.”
Jorah’s brow furrowed. “The one you keep running into?”
“That’s the one. He got hurt by the giant. I healed him, but it was a bad injury.”
“He was there today?”
“He disappeared right when you guys got there. He wanted me to kill that giant.”
“Of course he did, he’s a hunter, it’s what they do. They hunt, they kill. It’s in their nature.”
I shook my head. “Hunters are human, so that’s a bunch of bullshit that the books say to try and make it seem better or something. He could do it differently, but he doesn’t want to. It’s a choice.”
“It’s also the way they’re trained from birth. They’re trained to hunt to kill.”
“Doesn’t make it right.”
“Didn’t say it did.” He sent me a gentle smile. “Why are you so worried about this hunter, Bas?”
I shrugged. “He keeps getting in my way and saying ignorant shit because I’m a witch. He’s got a vendetta against witches, and he uses a crossbow.”
Realization flickered through Jorah’s eyes. “You think he’s the witch killer?”
“I think there’s a possibility, yeah. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was.” I didn’t want to believe Grim was the one murdering witches, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t. He fit the, albeit vague, profile, so he could be the murderer.
I cringed as my chest tightened at the thought. What if Grim was the murderer? If he was, he’d be executed.
Another sharp pang shot through my chest, and I gasped as I pressed my hand over the pain. Holy fuck. If he was the murderer, he’d be killed.
My chest tightened further at the thought, making it hard to breathe.
“Bas?” Jorah asked, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
I shook my head. Why did the thought of Grim being killed hurt so badly?
I let Jorah lead me into my house and plop me on the couch. He kneeled in front of me with a worried expression and asked, “Why does your chest feel so tight?”
I shook my head, and the worry on his face grew.
After hesitating, he gently asked, “Basil, is this about Rebe?” I blinked at that, but he kept going.